Exit vs. Close: What's the Difference?
Edited by Sumera Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on October 5, 2023
Exit refers to the act of leaving a place or situation, or a way out of a place. Close means to shut something, like a door or window, or to come to an end, like a business or event.
Key Differences
Exit is a term that primarily refers to the act of leaving a specific location or situation. It can be used both as a noun and as a verb. In its noun form, it usually indicates a doorway or gateway leading out of a place, such as an exit ramp on a highway. In verb form, it describes the action of departing, like "he exited the room."
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Close, on the other hand, refers to the action of shutting or sealing off an opening, such as a door, window, or even a business. It also has implications of finality, as in a project or deal coming to an end. As with "exit," the word "close" can also function as both a noun and a verb, but its usage varies more broadly.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
While both exit and close can signify the end of something, they are generally not interchangeable. For instance, one would exit a building but close a door. The key difference often lies in the focus on movement out of a space with "exit," versus the action of sealing or ending with "close."
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
In terms of grammar, both "exit" and "close" can be used as nouns and verbs. However, "close" has additional forms such as "closer" and "closest" as comparative and superlative adjectives, while "exit" does not have commonly used adjective forms.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 22, 2023
Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Leaving a place or situation
Shutting or sealing off an opening
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Exit and Close Definitions
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Close
Bound by mutual interests, loyalties, or affections; intimate
Close friends.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Having little or no space between elements or parts; tight and compact
A close weave.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Exit
A passage or way out
An emergency exit in a theater.
Took the second exit on the throughway.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Exit
(Computers) To terminate the execution of (an application)
Exited the subroutine.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Exit
An act of going out or going away, or leaving; a departure.
He made his exit at the opportune time.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Exit
An opening or passage through which one can go from inside a place (such as a building, a room, or a vehicle) to the outside; an egress.
Emergency exit
Fire exit
He was looking for the exit and got lost.
She stood at the exit of the house looking back and waving at those inside.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Exit
(road transport) A minor road (such as a ramp or slip road) which is used to leave a major road (such as an expressway, highway, or motorway).
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Exit
The act of departing from life; death.
The untimely exit of a respected politician
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Exit
(intransitive) To go out or go away from a place or situation; to depart, to leave.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Exit
(theatre) To leave a scene or depart from a stage.
Desdemona exits stage left.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Giving or spending with reluctance; stingy
He is known to be close with his money.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
(Linguistics) Pronounced with the tongue near the palate, as the ee in meet. Used of vowels.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To move (a door, for example) so that an opening or passage is covered or obstructed; shut.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To stop the operations of permanently or temporarily
Closed down the factory.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Exit
The departure of a player from the stage, when he has performed his part.
They have their exits and their entrances.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To make unavailable for use
Closed the area to development.
Closed the database to further changes.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Exit
Any departure; the act of quitting the stage of action or of life; death; as, to make one's exit.
Sighs for his exit, vulgarly called death.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Exit
A way of departure; passage out of a place; egress; way out.
Forcing the water forth through its ordinary exits.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To bring together all the elements or parts of
Management closed ranks and ostracized the troublemaker.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Exit
An opening that permits escape or release;
He blocked the way out
The canyon had only one issue
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
(Sports) To modify (one's stance), as in baseball or golf, by turning the body so that the forward shoulder and foot are closer to the intended point of impact with the ball.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Exit
Move out of or depart from;
Leave the room
The fugitive has left the country
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Exit
Pass from physical life and lose all all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life;
She died from cancer
They children perished in the fire
The patient went peacefully
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To be priced or listed at a specified amount when trading ends
Stocks closed higher on Monday.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To draw near
The orbiter closed with the space station in preparation for docking.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
(Baseball) To finish a game by protecting a lead. Used of relief pitchers.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
(klōs) An enclosed place, especially land surrounding or beside a cathedral or other building.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To move so that an opening is closed.
Close the door behind you when you leave.
Jim was listening to headphones with his eyes closed.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To make (e.g. a gap) smaller.
The runner in second place is closing the gap on the leader.
To close the ranks of an army
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To put an end to; to conclude; to complete; to finish; to consummate.
Close the session;
To close a bargain;
To close a course of instruction
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To make the final outs, usually three, of a game.
He has closed the last two games for his team.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
(surveying) To have a vector sum of 0; that is, to form a closed polygon.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
(intransitive) To do the tasks (putting things away, locking doors, etc.) required to prepare a store or other establishment to shut down for the night.
Whoever closed last night forgot to turn off the closet light.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
An end or conclusion.
We owe them our thanks for bringing the project to a successful close.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
(sales) The point at the end of a sales pitch when the consumer is asked to buy.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
The time when checkin staff will no longer accept passengers for a flight.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
(Scotland) A very narrow alley between two buildings, often overhung by one of the buildings above the ground floor.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
(legal) The interest which one may have in a piece of ground, even though it is not enclosed
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Oppressive; without motion or ventilation; causing a feeling of lassitude.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Adhering strictly to a standard or original; exact.
A close translation; a close copy
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Accurate; careful; precise; also, attentive; undeviating; strict.
The patient was kept under close observation.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Almost, but not quite (getting to an answer or goal); near
No, but you were close.
We were so close to winning!
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To stop, or fill up, as an opening; to shut; as, to close the eyes; to close a door.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To bring together the parts of; to consolidate; as, to close the ranks of an army; - often used with up.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To bring to an end or period; to conclude; to complete; to finish; to end; to consummate; as, to close a bargain; to close a course of instruction.
One frugal supper did our studies close.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To come or gather around; to inclose; to encompass; to confine.
The depth closed me round about.
But now thou dost thyself immure and closeIn some one corner of a feeble heart.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To come together; to unite or coalesce, as the parts of a wound, or parts separated.
What deep wounds ever closed without a scar?
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To end, terminate, or come to a period; as, the debate closed at six o'clock.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
To grapple; to engage in hand-to-hand fight.
They boldly closed in a hand-to-hand contest.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
The manner of shutting; the union of parts; junction.
The doors of plank were; their close exquisite.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Conclusion; cessation; ending; end.
His long and troubled life was drawing to a close.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
The conclusion of a strain of music; cadence.
At every close she made, the attending throngReplied, and bore the burden of the song.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
An inclosed place; especially, a small field or piece of land surrounded by a wall, hedge, or fence of any kind; - specifically, the precinct of a cathedral or abbey.
Closes surrounded by the venerable abodes of deans and canons.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
A narrow passage leading from a street to a court, and the houses within.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
The interest which one may have in a piece of ground, even though it is not inclosed.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Shut fast; closed; tight; as, a close box.
From a close bower this dainty music flowed.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Oppressive; without motion or ventilation; causing a feeling of lassitude; - said of the air, weather, etc.
If the rooms be low-roofed, or full of windows and doors, the one maketh the air close, . . . and the other maketh it exceeding unequal.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Out of the way observation; secluded; secret; hidden.
"Her close intent."
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Having the parts near each other; dense; solid; compact; as applied to bodies; viscous; tenacious; not volatile, as applied to liquids.
The golden globe being put into a press, . . . the water made itself way through the pores of that very close metal.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Adjoining; near; either in space; time, or thought; - often followed by to.
Plant the spring crocuses close to a wall.
The thought of the Man of sorrows seemed a very close thing - not a faint hearsay.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Intimate; familiar; confidential.
League with you I seekAnd mutual amity, so strait, so close,That I with you must dwell, or you with me.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Adhering strictly to a standard or original; exact; strict; as, a close translation.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Accurate; careful; precise; also, attentive; undeviating; strict; not wandering; as, a close observer.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Uttered with a relatively contracted opening of the mouth, as certain sounds of e and o in French, Italian, and German; - opposed to open.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Secretly; darkly.
A wondrous vision which did close implyThe course of all her fortune and posterity.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
The temporal end; the concluding time;
The stopping point of each round was signaled by a bell
The market was up at the finish
They were playing better at the close of the season
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Cease to operate or cause to cease operating;
The owners decided to move and to close the factory
My business closes every night at 8 P.M.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Complete a business deal, negotiation, or an agreement;
We closed on the house on Friday
They closed the deal on the building
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut;
Close the door
Shut the window
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Bar access to;
Due to the accident, the road had to be closed for several hours
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Finish or terminate (meetings, speeches, etc.);
The meeting was closed with a charge by the chairman of the board
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Come together, as if in an embrace;
Her arms closed around her long lost relative
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Unite or bring into contact or bring together the edges of;
Close the circuit
Close a wound
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Be priced or listed when trading stops;
The stock market closed high this Friday
My new stocks closed at $59 last night
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Change one's body stance so that the forward shoulder and foot are closer to the intended point of impact
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Finish a game in baseball by protecting a lead;
The relief pitcher closed with two runs in the second inning
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
At or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other;
Close to noon
How close are we to town?
A close formation of ships
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Close in relevance or relationship;
A close family
We are all...in close sympathy with...
Close kin
A close resemblance
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances;
Near neighbors
In the near future
They are near equals
His nearest approach to success
A very near thing
A near hit by the bomb
She was near tears
She was close to tears
Had a close call
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Rigorously attentive; strict and thorough;
Close supervision
Paid close attention
A close study
Kept a close watch on expenditures
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Marked by fidelity to an original;
A close translation
A faithful copy of the portrait
A faithful rendering of the observed facts
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
(of a contest or contestants) evenly matched;
A close contest
A close election
A tight game
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Lacking fresh air;
A dusty airless attic
The dreadfully close atmosphere
Hot and stuffy and the air was blue with smoke
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Giving or spending with reluctance;
Our cheeseparing administration
Very close (or near) with his money
A penny-pinching miserly old man
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Inclined to secrecy or reticence about divulging information;
Although they knew her whereabouts her friends kept close about it
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
Close
Near in time or place or relationship;
As the wedding day drew near
Stood near the door
Don't shoot until they come near
Getting near to the true explanation
Her mother is always near
The end draws nigh
The bullet didn't come close
Don't get too close to the fire
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 08, 2023
FAQs
Is "exit" used in the theater?
Yes, "exit" is often used as a stage direction in scripts.
Sara Rehman
Sep 22, 2023
Is an "exit" always a physical door?
No, "exit" can also refer to ways out of situations, not just physical spaces.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Can "close" be an adjective?
Yes, "close" can be an adjective meaning near or intimate.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Is "close" only used to mean shutting something?
No, "close" can also mean near in space or time, or coming to an end.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Can "exit" be used in the context of business?
Yes, terms like "exit strategy" refer to plans for leaving a business venture.
Janet White
Sep 22, 2023
Does "exit" always imply a permanent leave?
No, "exit" can refer to both temporary and permanent departures.
Harlon Moss
Sep 22, 2023
Can "close" refer to narrow gaps?
Yes, "close" can refer to small distances or gaps.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Can "exit" be used as a verb?
Yes, "exit" can be used as a verb meaning to leave a place.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Is "exit" used in driving?
Yes, "exit" often refers to off-ramps or ways out on a highway.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Can "exit" and "close" be used interchangeably?
Generally, no. They refer to different actions and are not usually interchangeable.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 22, 2023
Can "close" refer to the end of an event?
Yes, "close" can refer to the end or conclusion of an event or period.
Harlon Moss
Sep 22, 2023
Can "close" be a noun?
Yes, "close" can be a noun meaning the end or conclusion.
Sara Rehman
Sep 22, 2023
Is "exit" used in computing?
Yes, "exit" is often used as a command to leave a program.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Can "close" refer to relationships?
Yes, "close" can describe intimate or tight-knit relationships.
Janet White
Sep 22, 2023
Is "close" used in sports?
Yes, "close" can refer to narrowly missing, as in "a close call."
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Sumera SaeedSumera is an experienced content writer and editor with a niche in comparative analysis. At Diffeence Wiki, she crafts clear and unbiased comparisons to guide readers in making informed decisions. With a dedication to thorough research and quality, Sumera's work stands out in the digital realm. Off the clock, she enjoys reading and exploring diverse cultures.
